§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how much was paid by his Department to the National Film Development Agency in 1987–88; and what is the proposed payment for 1988–89;
(2) how much was paid by his Department to British Screen Finance Ltd. in 1987–88; and what is the proposed payment for 1988–89.
§ Mr. ButcherIn 1987–88 the Department of Trade and Industry spent £2 million on the film support schemes administered by British Screen Finance Ltd. and the National Film Development Fund. Of that sum, £1,760,000 was paid in respect of the feature films and short films financing schemes run by BSF, and the remaining £240,000 was paid in respect of the project development scheme managed by the NFDF.
There is provision, in any one year, for funds to be switched between the short films and project development schemes. I am not therefore in a position to give the breakdown of funding for 1988–89. However, I would expect that total expenditure on BSF and NFDF schemes combined will amount to the maximum of £2 million allocated for this purpose.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the United Kingdom earned from the export trade of its commercial film industry in 1987–88.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest available information in respect of the overseas earnings of the United Kingdom film companies relates to 1986, details of which were published inBritish Business, 2 October 1987. Results for 1987 are expected to be published in British Business in September.